Finding a Chevy Small Block 327
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Carl King - 23/07/10 at 06:07 pm
Over the last couple of years I’ve toyed with a few ideas on which Chevy small block I’d put in my 64 Impala.
At first I was stuck on keeping it original so I found a 283 with a 1964 casting date code. That motor still sits in the engine compartment. After that there was the LT1 conversion. The LT1 wound up in my truck. After all the work it took to mess with that I decided I didn’t want to get into that again.
Now I’m convinced I want to build a 302. Both because the combination of bore and stroke make for a “screamer” as the 302 has become to be known, and it’s a small block that you can afford to drive. I likely won’t need to establish a budget to go for a cruise in the car or for taking it to a regional car show.
So, I set out about 6 months ago to find a 327 that I could put my 283 steel crank in. I have to admit, it was no small task. I’m convinced that 327 chevy small blocks in usable condition don’t really exist here on the east coast. There was a human factor hidden in this dilemma I didn’t consider though, and once it dawned on me, I stumbled over exactly what I was looking for.
It was right in my neighborhood. I just needed to open my eyes.
I’ve spent a lot of time on Craigslist looking for a 327 chevy small block, mostly because Craigslist is “the place to look”. In the spring there were lots of listings for327 chevy small blocks, but mostly at least a days drive away and more than you can shake a stick at if you want to have it shipped from the east coast.
I almost went for it but couldn’t wrap my brain around paying $700-800 after shipping for the ultimate in 327’s known to be the one’s to look for if casting numbers are the authority.
Let’s face it. There are few 4 bolt 327’s and I’m not likely to find one 40 years after the fact.
So how did I find it?
Simple. I decided to call some local machine shops. I called about a half dozen. Most of them said they’d have to check their stockpiles but you knew by the sound of their voice they didn’t think it was worth their time.
I knew the law of averages was on my side. If I spoke to enough of them, one of them would love to get rid of an ancient 327 Chevy small block sitting in the pile of blocks in the corner.
I was right. The funny part was I got a call back a few days later from the one guy I spoke to who sounded the least hopeful. The issue was that the 327’s he did own were not in his possession. The guy who had them owed him for the machine work he did on them…but was dying of Cancer. It was definitely a sensitive issue. It would have been really tacky to go looking for money from a dying man.
Well…He knew the friend of the guy who had the blocks (yes there were 2) and asked him if he could bring it up with the guy.
So now I have a 327, but considering the deal I got, I’ll be building a real 327 chevy small block instead.
The block was a 1965-1966 350 HP version with a forged steel crank, rods and pistons. But check this. The crank was a 1962-1967 4577 with standard small journals and was almost good enough to just polish and use. The bore was only .030 over and had only a few racing runs on it, the line bore was perfect.
The bore and pistons were good enough that I could put it back together if I wanted to. I’ll most likely get it refreshed however, being as anal as I am about these details.
All for $250.